Film-feed mechanism for cinematographs



March 17, 1925.

K. HIGGINSON FILM FEED MECHANISM FOR CINEMATOGRAPHS Filed May 9, 1925lHllllllHlEiiH "MINI! lll Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

KINGSLEY HIGGINSON,

OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 CAREY-GAVEY SYNDI- GATE LIMITED, OFLONDON, ENGLAND, A BRITISH COMPANY.

FILM-FEED MECHANISM FOR CINEMATOGRAPHS.

Application filed May 9,

Z '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KINGsLnY HiocixsoN, a subject of the King ofEngland, residing in London, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Film-Feed Mechanism for Cinematographs, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to film-feed mechanism of the accelerated Genevastop-motion type for intermittently feeding the film of cinematographsand like apparatus, such for example as kinematographio cameras, whereina rotary pin-carrier having its pins eccentric to its axis of rotation,is itself rotatable bodily about a second axis parallel to the said axisof rotation.

In this type of film-feed mechanism the actual speed of movement of thefilm through the gate of a ciuematogra-ph is increased beyond the speeddue to the Maltese cross being driven by a pin travelling at a uniformspeed round a circular path, and the duration of the period during whichthe film is in motion is considerably reduced and the duration of itsstationary condition and therefore the illumination of the film is relatively increased.

This invention has for its main object to provide an improvedconstruction of looking device for mechanism of the type referred to.

According to the present invention there is provided mechanism of theaccelerated Geneva stop-motion type described, characterized by theprovision of locking means so constructed and arranged that the crossremains locked thereby after a part of the pin has entered a slot and,after feed has taken place, is locked again before the pin has entirelyleft the same slot, the cross be ing always looked except when the pinis in driving engagement with it.

Conveniently, the main cross is formed or provided with a. coaxialauxiliary cross rigidly connected with it, which auxiliary cross is heldlocked by a locking member immediately before and immediately after afeed movement whilst the main cross is otherwise interlocked.-

In the-accompanying drawings which il- 1923. Serial No. 637,802.

lustrate three methods of vention into effect- Figure 1 illustrates onetype of Geneva stop-motion device wherein the pin is rotatably mountedupon the locking-disc;

Figure 2 illustrates the device of Figure 1 wherein the cross is shownin the midposition between two locking positions;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the locking-disc 1 is shown provided with adisc 2 rotatably mounted thereon and which is provided at its peripherywith a pin 3. The axis of rotation of the disc 2 is parallel to the rotational axis of the disc 1. The disc 2 is geared to the locking-disc 1 insuch a man ner that as the same is rotated a circular path is traversedby the pin 3 relatively to the locking-disc 1, and the axis of rotationof the disc 2 is so situated relatively to the axis of rotation of thelocking-disc 1 that during the rotation of the locking-disc the pin 3'crosses the periphery of the disc 1 every complete revolution of thepin, thereby causing the same to traverse what is known as a curtateepicycloidal path. The locking-disc l is provided with a cylindricalflange 4 which constitutes the locking surface for a Maltese cross 5.The disc 2 is carried by a spindle journalled in a boss 6 which projectsfrom that face of the locking-disc l which is situated opposite to thatwhich bears the locking-flange 4:. The looking flange 4 is cut away fora portion of its circumference to provide a slot 4* to permit the pin 3and the disc 2 to project beyond the circumference of the flange duringtheir rotational movement. Upon that end of the spindle of the disc 2which projects through the boss 6 in the disc 1 there is secured apinion 7 arranged to engage with a stationary spur-wheel 8 mountedcoaxially with the locking-disc 1. The ratio between the said pinion 7and spur-wheel 8 may be varied according to the requirements desired,but in the specific example shown the ratio is 1:3.

lVith the arrangement hereinbefore described the pin 3 traverses a pathwhich carrying the in lUU said Wheel all the time except when the pinfore feed commences, and the second comis in driving engagement With it,which mencing immediately after feed has taken 10 lockingmeans comprisestwo locking surplace, While the first said locking means is faceswhereof the one ceases to be operative inoperative, substantially asdescribed.

5 shortly before feed occurs and operates In testimony whereof I aflixmy signaagain shortly after feed has ceased, While ture. the second isoperative during two short periods of time, one ending immediately be-KINGSLEY HIGGINSO-N.

